December 28, 1919

To all Gubcheka, Uezdcheka, Ray- and Utchka

In view of the increasing snow storms, which threaten to halt railway control of traffic, and which at the present time threatens grave consequences for the existence of Soviet power, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission prescribes that you take urgent measures to prevent even minimal stoppages of railway traffic. Report all measures undertaken to the VChK. Non-compliance will be punished according to the laws of wartime. This prescription is valid and binding throughout the winter.

Chairman of the VChK Dzerzhinsky

* The telegram was sent by cipher with the following note from the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs: "If you are limited in the amount of baggage upon your return to Russia, apply the system of excerpts or photography. The rest—to literature warehouses so they can be transported to us in portions."